MATERIA MEDIGA OF THE ANCIENT CHINESE. 221 
ya, 65], rose-coloured flowers. Seeds also like those of the 
liao (Polygonum) but larger and black. It is used for dyeing 
a blue colour, but it is not fit preparing tien (Indigo). It is 
called liao lan [v. supra}. This is the plant used in medicine. 
Another kind is termed mu lan (v.s). It grows in Ling nan 
[S. China], is not officinal. The tien or Indigo is also prepared 
from the sung lan (v. s). The J | ma lan is mentioned in 
the Rh ya [178]. In Yang chou [in Kiang su, App. 400] 
there is one kind of ma lan the leaves of which resemble those 
of the k‘w (bitter) mai [Lactuca or Sonchus. See 257]. The 
people there use the root in medicine. The §% | Wu lan 
which is produced in Kiang ning [Nan king, App. 129] 
resembles the hao (Artemisia) and has white flowers. 
For further particulars and the identification of the Chinese 
Indigo plants see Bot. sin., Il, 392. The mu lan is Indigofera 
tinctoria, L., and other species yielding the true Indigo.— 
The sung lan is Isatis tinctoria, L.—The liao lan is Polygonum 
tinctorium. 
124.—38 liao. P., XVI,76. T., LVIIL. 
Pen king :—Tiao. The Index of the Pen king has 3 we 
liao shi (fruit, seeds). The seeds are officinal. Taste pungent. 
Nature warm. Non-poisonous. 
Pie lu:—The liao shi is produced in Lei tse [App. 182], 
in marshes. The leaves also used in medicine. 
T‘ao Huna-Kinc :—There are many kinds of liao. Three 
of them are used for food. The first is the #F | ts‘ing 
(green) liao, which is much employed by the people. Its 
leaves are round or pointed. The round-leaved is the best. 
The second is the 3% [ tsz‘ (purple) liao. It resembles the 
first but is of a purple colour. The third is the # [ Aiang 
(fragrant) liao. All these sorts are not very pungent in taste 
and are good to eat, 
